Obama interrupted by heckling reporter

6/15/12 2:31 PM EDT

In a surprising breach of etiquette, President Barack Obama's Rose Garden remarks on Friday were interrupted by heckling from reporter Neil Munro of the website Daily Caller, whose editor-in-chief is conservative commentator Tucker Carlson.

Obama, announcing a change of policy that would allow the children of illegal immigrants to avoid deportation if they meet certain criteria, was interrupted mid-speech by Munro.

While it's not unusual for Obama to be interrupted by occasional hecklers at big public events, the fact that a reporter brought Obama's speech to a halt startled members of the White House press corps.

Obama, who generally ignores shouted questions from reporters at the end of press events, later addressed Munro's question after finishing his remarks uninterrupted.

“In answer to your question, sir — and the next time I’d prefer you’d let me finish my statement before you ask that question — is this is the right thing to do for the American people," Obama told Munro.

Mobbed by reporters after the event, Munro was asked if he would give his name.

“Yeah, but you’ll misspell it,“ he said.

Munro, according to his Twitter bio, has worked as a reporter for Defense News, Washington Technology and the National Journal.

"As a general matter, reporters are there to ask [questions]," Carlson told The New York Times's Brian Stelter. Carlson did not immediately respond to a question from POLITICO. The Daily Caller's account later tweeted that the organization was "proud" of Munro.

UPDATE: In a statement, Munro said he misjudged when Obama was ending his speech.

"I timed the question believing the president was closing his remarks, because naturally I have no intention of interrupting the President of the United States," Munro said in a statement posted on the Caller's website. "I know he rarely takes questions before walking away from the podium. When I asked the question as he finished his speech, he turned his back on the many reporters, and walked away while I and at least one other reporter asked questions," he said.

President Obama reacts to being interrupted during Rose Garden remarks. | Donovan Slack/POLITICO